District says latest tests show drinking water at school safe

TRACI ANDERSON

Published 10:16 am, Monday, April 25, 2016

Recently, Burt Russell of PSI gathered 47 more samples from sinks and showers throughout the school building, and the samples were tested for lead. In a press release from Superintendent Ron Kraft, he stated the results came to him late Tuesday. The testing was conducted by PSI at all drinking fountains and sinks where students can fill water bottles. All data indicated all of the levels are below the 0.020 mg/l action level recommended by the EPA. For lead amounts higher than this action level, the EPA recommends schools find the source of the lead and rectify the situation for water that is used for drinking or cooking. There are no EPA mandates for schools that use a municipal water supply, such as Harbor Beach, according to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

Kraft said the school requested PSI to send the results to Rich Overmyer, chief of the MDEQ non-community water supply program, for his review.

Kraft said both the hot and cold water in the kitchen have been tested, and both levels are below the EPA and Safe Drinking Water Act levels.

Kraft said the only outlets that tested above the recommended level in this last round of testing are the hot water in the boys' locker room showers.

"We are awaiting Mr. Overmyer's suggestions on the boys' shower rooms, but continue to (relay) the suggestion made by Mr. Overmyer in an e-mail dated 1-6-05 where he stated, 'We do not recommend using hot water for consumptive uses because it is known that lead levels can increase in hot water.'"

The school has tested for lead numerous times in previous months. The first lead results the school received were from testing conducted in August. These results showed a slightly elevated lead level in a sample taken from a water fountain by the old K-8 gym. Kraft said he found out about this elevated level in October and the water fountain was immediately turned off. He's not sure why there was a delay between when the tests were conducted and when he received the results.

In late October, PSI performed extensive sampling of water faucets and all drinking fountains throughout the facility, totaling 26 locations, according to Burt Russell of PSI. Four samples out of the 26 showed elevated lead levels, and the samples were taken from the old boiler room tap, new boiler room tap, and the girls' and boys' showers. No drinking fountain samples showed elevated lead levels. The locations of the elevated levels appear to indicate an association with the hot water supply system. In order to further isolate the source and nature of lead in the water, two more samples were taken from the lines associated with the water heater and sent out to be tested. Both of these samples exceeded the action level significantly. However, because they are not in areas where people would get drinking water, the elevated lead levels pose no danger for people at the school.

Regardless, the school is looking into options to figure out the most effective way of reducing lead levels in the hot water with assistance from the DEQ and PSI.

The latest round of lead testing was conducted by PSI to be absolutely sure there are no elevated lead levels in any drinking water areas of the school, Russell said.

Overmyer and Russell both said the school has gone above and beyond in its handling of the lead situation.

While test results from April water testing showed elevated lead levels, Russell said those results aren't valid because the protocol for testing for lead was not followed because at that time, the school was not specifically testing for lead. If protocol for lead testing is not followed, the results aren't accurate, he said.

In late December, Citizens for Education claimed the school board knew about the elevated lead levels in the April test results and did nothing about it. Kraft and the school board have denied the group's claims and have addressed the situation at public meetings to present facts and clear up misconceptions.

"Hopefully, (the latest lead test results) will answer the rumors, hearsay, and popular opinions," Kraft stated in the press release.

He said if people still have questions or concerns, he can answer them and provide data to support his responses. He can be reached at (989) 479-9521.